KARACHI:
Instead of celebrating wildly after the final whistle, several Pakistan players dropped to the turf in relief.
For a team that had spent months navigating administrative turmoil, travel controversies and uncertainty around their own federation, the victory over Japan felt less like a single match and more like an emotional release and a return to the Hockey World Cup after eight years.
Having covered Pakistan hockey for more than a decade, I have learned that the sport rarely moves in straight lines. Even the moments that look simple from the outside often carry their own complications, and victories in Pakistan hockey rarely arrive without a story behind them. Pakistan’s dramatic 4–3 win over Japan in the World Cup qualifiers semi-final in Ismailia was one of those moments.
On paper, it will be remembered as a thrilling comeback. Pakistan opened the scoring in the ninth minute before Japan fought back to take a commanding 3–1 lead. For long stretches of the match, the Japanese side appeared in control.
But between the 52nd and 57th minute, Pakistan scored three goals in the space of five minutes to turn the match around and secure qualification for the FIH Hockey World Cup after eight years.
The speed of that turnaround was remarkable. Yet what stood out even more was the manner in which the players carried themselves when the match seemed to be slipping away.
At 3-1 down, Pakistan even missed a penalty corner opportunity that could have brought them back into the contest earlier. In many matches, that moment can drain a team’s belief. Instead, the reaction was the opposite.
The players remained composed. There was urgency, but not the panic that often creeps into a team chasing the game. The team continued to push forward, trusting that another opportunity would come.
On the sidelines, head coach Khawaja Junaid was equally animated, often standing on the edge of the technical area directing players until the final whistle. It was a small detail, but one that reflected a team that refused to mentally step out of the contest.
The players arrived at this tournament after months of uncertainty surrounding the sport. Administrative disputes, funding questions and management changes had once again placed Pakistan hockey under uncomfortable scrutiny. Even the team captain, Ammad Butt, found himself under pressure after being banned by the previous federation leadership before the decision was later reversed.
Such situations often divide teams. In this case, it appears to have had the opposite effect. Throughout the qualifiers, Pakistan remained unbeaten, and Butt continued to lead the side despite everything happening around the team. For a captain to carry that kind of pressure while keeping the squad united says much about the trust the players place in him.
The semi-final victory over Japan ultimately reflected that collective belief. For long stretches, there were no visible signs of a team weighed down by the off-field turbulence that has followed Pakistan hockey for years. Instead, there was a group of players determined to control the only part of the story they could, their performance on the pitch.
Qualification for the World Cup after eight years is significant for a sport that once defined Pakistan’s sporting identity. But it would be misleading to describe this moment as a full revival.
The deeper structural problems surrounding hockey in the country have not disappeared overnight.
What the victory in Ismailia does show, however, is something equally important. Even within an imperfect system, the players have demonstrated that the competitive spirit of Pakistan hockey still survives.
Even in the final moments, that resolve was tested once more. With less than a minute remaining, Japan earned a penalty stroke that could have forced the match into a shootout. Goalkeeper Ali Raza stepped up and saved it, holding Pakistan’s lead and effectively securing their place at the World Cup. In many ways, the moment captured the evening itself, a team refusing to let the opportunity slip away.
Pakistan hockey may still be struggling to rebuild its structure. But on the field, the fight is clearly still alive.
